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Jim Bowen Presenter Of Bullseye Dead Aged 80

The broadcaster and stand-up comedian who was best known presenting the classic darts-based game show Bullseye in the 1980s and 90s,

Bowen’s wife Phyllis confirmed the sad news to BBC Radio Lancashire.

TV personality and comedian Jim Bowen has died at the age of 80, his family has told the BBC. He was the presenter of Bullseye in the 1980s and 1990s. #Bullseye #RIPJimBowen pic.twitter.com/QxoiworWz9

— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) March 14, 2018

Mr Bowen, who was born in Heswall, Wirrall, but grew up in Clayton-le-Moors in Lancashire, had worked as a deputy headmaster before embarking on a successful career as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s.

He then became a household name when he began presenting Bullseye – a programme he hosted from its beginning in September 1981 until the end of its 14th series in July 1995.

Bowen had a number of famous catchphrases, including: ‘Keep out of the black and in to the red, nothing in this game for two in a bed.’

And ‘Super, smashing, great’, ‘You can’t beat a bit of Bully’, and ‘Let’s look at what you could have won’.

Jim Bowen. Thanks for being super, smashing, great

— Ryan Weston (@Ryweston87) March 14, 2018

As well as a stand-up career and Bullseye, Bowen worked as a presenter on the radio, and also guest starred in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, as well as BBC’s Jonathan Creek, and Last Of The Summer Wine.

Tributes to the ‘super, smashing, great’ guy have been paid on social media, among those was one from boxer Frank Bruno, who wrote:

Jim Bowen RIP great comic we worked together many times had a lot of laughs together. Jim & Ken Dodd sad time for the entertainment industry.

RIP Jim Bowen! Thank you mate for the great #bullseye days we had so much fun. Super Magic Great!

So, I’m still watching Bullseye from 1981. And everyone is unemployed. But when they tell Jim this, he doesn’t mock them or chide them; he offers his support and asks how bad it is wherever they’re from. Like it’s a war. Which it was – and they’re on the same side.

— David Hill (@davidWhill14) February 3, 2018

R.I.P JimBowen super smashing great pic.twitter.com/hC1kvktZyM

— Chris (@Chris2lfc68) March 14, 2018

RIP Jim Bowen, now behind the great revolving board in the sky, riding a speedboat around landlocked Northern counties.

— Fudgey (@fudgecrumpet) March 14, 2018

RIP Jim Bowen great smashing lovely 😪

— sean the cabbie (@northolt3103) March 14, 2018

In February 2011 Bowen suffered two mild strokes but recovered in hospital. He sadly suffered a third stroke in November 2014, which reportedly left him struggling to walk and talk.